In this episode, Dr. G answers an obvious but crucial question with complete honesty: will alumni support be needed to move the Multnomah library to ABC in Africa? His answer is simple and emphatic — yes, yes, and yes. A project of this scale has never been attempted before in this context, and it can only happen through the shared commitment of people who love Multnomah and believe in the future of Bible training in Africa. Up to this point, the work has already been fueled largely by Multnomah people — alumni, faculty, and friends who believed in the vision even when it was still small and mostly unseen. Over the years, entire personal libraries have been donated, sometimes 15 to 20 full collections at a time. But the Multnomah library is different. This is a jewel — a complete, carefully built academic collection of roughly 120,000 volumes — and moving it is an undertaking on an entirely different level. Dr. G explains the realities behind the vision. Packing, boxing, loading, and transporting tens of thousands of books requires people, equipment, containers, and careful logistics. Books don’t travel one at a time — they move by the container, roughly 26,000 volumes per shipment. Each container costs around $15,000 to prepare and send, covering packing materials, labor, transport, and sometimes a small margin for unexpected needs. Beyond that, there are agents to hire at multiple borders, paperwork to manage, and constant advocacy to ensure the books aren’t delayed or heavily taxed along the way. Yet despite the cost and complexity, Dr. G’s tone remains hopeful and invitational. There are many ways to help — financially, practically, and relationally. One of the simplest and most powerful is spreading the word: telling fellow alumni and friends that something meaningful is happening, something that reconnects Multnomah’s legacy to its original purpose of deep Bible teaching. This library, once rooted in Portland, now has the chance to shape pastors, churches, and schools across Africa — if the community steps forward together.

In This Video
• Whether alumni support is needed for the library project
• Why the Multnomah library is unlike any previous donation
• The real costs of packing and shipping 120,000 books
• How containers, logistics, and border agents factor into the process
• Practical ways alumni and friends can get involved

About This Series
This video is part of a collection celebrating the story, ministry, and legacy of Dr. Garry Friesen (Dr. G), honoring the heritage of Multnomah School of the Bible / Multnomah University and the continuing work God is doing through new ministries around the world.

Stay Connected
If these stories encourage you, feel free to like, subscribe, and share with others who knew and loved Multnomah — and with believers growing in faith in Rwanda and beyond. Videos are also available at https://www.youtube.com/@ABCMultnomah.

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The production of these videos was provided by the Multnomah Family Team, if you would like to help sponsor more videos like this, please contact us here.